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"The term "sinless perfection" was one which Wesley never used because of its ambiguity." [40] John William Fletcher, an early Methodist divine who John Wesley chose to lead the Methodist movement if he died, clarified the Wesleyan doctrine by stating "that the doctrine of an evangelically sinless perfection is truly Scriptural."
Having Christian perfection is to be distinguished from absolute perfection, Which only God possesses; additionally, having infirmities (such as "immaturity, ignorance, physical handicaps, forgetfulness, lack of discernment, and poor communication skills") are not inconsistent with a person who has been entirely sanctified. [26]
The term "sinless perfection" was one which Wesley avoided using "because of its ambiguity," [93] rather, he contended that a Christian could be made "perfect in love". (Wesley studied Eastern Orthodoxy and embraced particularly the doctrine of Theosis ). [ 94 ]
In congruence with the Wesleyan (Methodist) definition of sin: [47] Wesley explains that those born of God do not sin habitually since to do so means that sin still reigns, which is a mark of an unbeliever. Neither does the Christian sin willfully since the believer’s will is now set on living for Christ. He further claims that believers do ...
[37] The founder of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), D. S. Warner, explains "Holiness writers and teachers, as far as my knowledge extends, uniformly hold up a sinless life, as the true test and Bible standard of regeneration." [5] This doctrine follows in the footsteps of Wesley who wrote “If a believer wilfully sins, he casts away his ...
Distinctively, in Methodist (Wesleyan-Arminian) theology, the doctrine of entire sanctification teaches, in summary, that it is the Christian's goal, in principle possible to achieve, to live without any (voluntary) sin (Christian perfection). [56] We believe that God calls every believer to holiness that rises out of His character.
The Higher Life movement was precipitated by the Wesleyan-Holiness movement, which had been gradually springing up, but made a definite appearance in the mid-1830s.It was at this time that Methodists in the northeastern United States began to preach Wesleyan doctrine of Christian perfection or entire sanctification and non-Methodists at Oberlin College in Ohio began to accept and promote their ...
Works of piety", in Methodism, are certain spiritual disciplines that along with the "works of mercy", serve as a means of grace, [1] in addition to being manifestations of growing in grace and of having received Christian perfection (entire sanctification). [2] [3] All Methodist Christians, laity and ordained, are expected to employ them. [4]